Nealon moved here in Oct. 2008. He previously lived in Pittsburgh for a year. Prior to that, he lived in various spots in upstate New York.

Here at Sound Check, we're enthusiastic fans of Nealon's work with The Muckrakes, a band that's accomplished much and evolved incredibly in recent years. Blending roots Americana sounds with fresh, vital rock, the band grew to be one of the region's best -- and that's not just Daily Press pride talking.

Nealon's inventive songwriting, Dylanesque singing and musical vision have been a key part of the band's development, so it's sad to see him go.

I asked him a few questions about his experience on the local music scene and about his lake-effect-laden future.

Looking back, what are you most proud of with regard to The Muckrakes?

I loved the gigs and meeting other musicians, but I’m most proud of The Muckrakes’ recordings. We hit the studio a few months after forming and, basically, haven’t stopped. We’ll probably have written and recorded 30 original songs by the time we finish the new album (some time this spring). That takes time, money, charity and patience. Considering we all have day jobs, families, etc., I think it shows the band’s work ethic.

Do you have any regrets about leaving the band?

Sure. The Muckrakes are the most talented, dedicated musicians I’ve ever worked with. Beyond that, they’re great guys; they’ve been like brothers to me.

How has the Hampton Roads music scene changed over your years here?

Bands come and go. Venues open and close. It’s hard to say. The addition of the Hampton Taphouse and a few other newer venues certainly helped The Muckrakes.

What are a few of the strengths of the scene? Weaknesses?

The biggest strength, I think, is the diversity. You’ve got hip-hop superstars, good metal bands and thriving Americana and punk scenes. Also, there’s radio shows - Out of the Box, Your Music Show - and local writers and bloggers to keep you in the know. A weakness would be the venues. I’m not criticizing places that host live music – in some cases, they’re more dedicated than the bands they book. But the state law that requires a certain amount of food to be served to sell alcohol isn’t conducive for live music. Ideally, there would be a few venues (dives) in each of the seven cities that do music and alcohol - that’s it.

What are your future musical plans?

I’m moving to Buffalo, which has a pretty good music scene. I want to hookup with the city’s polka players and take that music (at least the instruments that they use) into the 21stcentury. We’ll see. Also, my girlfriend, Jackie Heatwole, will soon be joining me. As the Delvers and other local pros can attest to, she’s a great singer. I’m sure we’ll put together something.